Lisa Mrazek, QMI Agency

REGINA - Allowing partial strip shows in bars in Saskatchewan was a "compromising position," said the province's minister responsible for alcohol authority in announcing the change Tuesday.

Stripping in Saskatchewan always meant dancers could only perform in alcohol-free zones. Donna Harpauer said that while some called to keep stripping and liquor completely separate in the province, others wanted the government to open the taps in strip clubs once and for all.

"There is always concern with organized crime if you have complete full nudity and there's other concerns if you don't, so we made this change that is a compromising position," Harpauer said Tuesday.

That means bars will now be allowed to host wet T-shirt contests and strip shows, but the law still draws the line at women showing nipples.

"Prohibition against full nudity still exists in Saskatchewan, but what we will allow is some removal of clothes in a permitted premises, adults only, where alcohol is served," said Donna Harpauer, Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA).

The change was one of 70 sweeping reforms Tuesday to Saskatchewan's booze regulations.

The NDP said it was concerned the government has not done due diligence to make sure organized crime will not benefit from the new, more open liquor laws.

"We want to see how this plays out on the enforcement side, and we want to see the broader analysis that has gone into the decision," MLA Warren McCall.